NEWARK (NJ)
NorthJersey.com
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
By JOHN CHADWICK
STAFF WRITER
The Newark Archdiocese said Monday that a former Ridgefield priest accused of sexual misconduct has agreed to retire and will no longer represent himself as a priest to the public.
The Rev. Peter Cheplic's decision to step down came after three men -- all of whom had attended St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church -- came forward last year and accused him of molesting them as teenagers and young adults.
Another man surfaced in 2002 with similar allegations -- which were found "credible" by a church review board.
The board had launched an inquiry into the three most recent cases and was preparing to take the next step -- sending the accusations to Rome for further evaluation -- when Cheplic and the archdiocese agreed to the retirement.